Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-04-21
MRS. BRAY.


IN, black eyed and crimson cheek.
with splendid bust, and arms which
she did not mind showing. was lit
lie pale creature, neither ugly nor pref
ty, but did not envy her. Let all the
men on earth admire heroine loved me.
If II was fair in his eyes I cared nothing
Tor her.
The other girls were jealous at times.
Madge Burt and Barbara Brown declar-
ed that there was no such thing us get.
ling, any attention from any one where
she was, and certainly she tried her
best to fascinatc her. Militant Bray
was her name, and | understand that,
young as she was. she was divorced
woman.
1t may have been that she was very
much ill-used By her husband, and had
been the injured party altogether--I
presume it is often so--but pure women
will bear n good deal rather than sever
the only tic that binds them to hus-
bands side, and there is always a
doubt about Il divorce. Some of the
ladies at Mrs. Horizons shrugged their
shoulders and wondered what the old
lady had been thinking of to take Mrs.
Bray in. The gentlemen, however,
fought in her defense. Beautiful. mu-
seal, fond of irritation and apt at flat
terry, she won her way into thor liking.
For my part, did not respect her one
whit. did not see anything to love
in her, but | admired her. Unlike
most women, ] always found myself
able to see the charms that men see in
personally attractive woman.
But were | Il man could not do as
men do; ilatler these ilrts 1T the eX-
pense of true-heartcd women, who love
them with all their souls. When good
Mrs. Carman went to Sicr room with
tears in her eyes, leaving Mr.. Carman
whispering soft nothings in Mrs. Bray's
ear, and when Little Ellie Fay crimson
I'd and trcmbled with anger because
her lover forgot ner while he turned
The bcautv'S music and looked down in
her eyes, | often thought to myself that
those were poor trumphs after all, and
that those men who gave them TO her
were but lily creatures. She liked
none of them. She Knocked them and
had little ncknames for each. She was
cold in heart us she was warm in man
ner. Her imprisoned glances were
those of an actress and nothing more.
She gave these Chances to my Harry
Us well as to others, but had no fear
of their effect. OF course he knew she
was handsome and that she sang well;
SO did |.
We had met at Mrs. Horizons. i
was an orphan and taught music for
my bread; he was Il young clerk in a
Wholesale house. AZ our first meeting
we liked each other, and he was the
only lover had ever had. When |
gave him my betrothal kiss 1t was with
lips that had never met those of any
man before, and | was glad to think of
il. We had been engaged three months,
and were TO be married in the spring.
We were wrapped up. in each other, and
concerned ourselves very little about
Mrs. Bray. did not 1t pleased me
better to think of better women. There
were others whose minds were continu-
ally running on her, however. Jealous
Fife Fay could never quite forget her.
Over and over and over again she sat in
my room, with tears pouring down her
cheeks, and talked of her.
She's wretch,' she declared, "a
bold, forward, cruel creature. She
knows Charlie is engaged to me. She
knows il. see it in her ewes; and she
works so hard TO get him to herself.
Charlie doesn' know what he is doing
for h mself. shall break with him
yet, and | do love him so. No one will
ever love him so much"
Then she would cry again and begin
the old story of Mrs. Bray's conduct,
of her looks, her contrivances, her
becks and wrcathcd smiles. | felt sorry
for the child; she was but 16, and sorry,
too, for Charlie, who was acting as
most foolish boys do under those Cir
cumstances. But one morning she be-
gan another strain.
Mrs. Bray is at work with your
Harry now" she said, land she'l i twist
him round her finger soon, as she does
my Charlie. It's witchcraft those
women have-an unholy power of some
kind. You'll see, Ethel; you'll suffer
rs | do soon"
And then she spoke of words and
looks and actions that had quite escap-
ed me, but which, spoken of, made me
strangely uncomfortable. had utter
faith in Harry, but did not like to
hear such things. At first it was only
that, but after a while it was more.
As the days went on noticed one
or two things that were suspicious.
saw that she contrived to meet my
lover in the halls and on the stairs, TO
ST near him at dinner-time, to 90 Out
upon the balcony when he did.
Charlie Beech was allowed to slip
back into his old place in Effie's heart
and my Harry was Mrs. Bray's object
Ellie had been sharper than |, bu
Harry was too strong in his love TO
me to yield. felt sure.
1t was about the time that Harry
business compelled him to choose ;
boarding-place further down town
lie left Mrs. Norton's, and only called
to see me in the evenings, and we be
gan TO write to each other. l have tn,
little notes he wrote me carefully hid
den away even now.
They arc very precious to me. As
read them over they bring those hour
back again and l am young and low
ing girl once more.
never loved Harry more tenderl
than when | sat down to my desk on
morning to tell him of little festivit
which i had been invited to attend
and TO ask his escort. | never shall